The leading role is played by Ingvar E. Sigurðsson, who was nominated for the European Film Awards for best acting.

The story is based on Einar Már Guðmundsson's 1995 novel of the same name, a semi-fictional story about Einar's brother Pálmi Örn Guðmundsson (named Páll in the book and movie).

Englar Alheimsins, often called the Icelandic One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest[citation needed], is the story of an Icelandic man, Páll (Ingvar Eggert Sigurðsson), who slowly descends into madness and depression after his girlfriend leaves him.

His parents decide to send him to a mental hospital, where he meets Óli (Baltasar Kormákur), who believes he's the songwriter for The Beatles, Viktor (Björn Jörundur Friðbjörnsson), who signs cheques with the signature of Adolf Hitler, and other special characters.

The film also includes several American rock songs, though they are not present on the soundtrack CD release.